So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Check my pulse, am I still breathing?
Will You grasp my wrist and hold it dear to You heart?
To see if I am beating for You and only You my Father
How we live and fight is who we are
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
"Who you are is all from Me"
I'm leaving behind the things of this world
"Follow me my son and let the dead bury their own"
So test me oh Lord, examine my soul
"Follow me my son for what you reap you will have sown"
Give light to my eyes to see Your glory divine and break through these skies
Hear me when I cry to see Your grace come down and purge these dead lives
"Have I not given you a spirit of power and love?"
I will live to fight for these dead lives
"Have I not given you a spirit of power and love?"
How we live and fight is who we are
And as You dwell inside my heart your burning a fire that's growing
So when I feel the warmth subside rekindle the embers that's burning
Check my pulse, am I still breathing?
Will You grasp my wrist and hold it dear to You heart?
To see if I am beating for You
A herald I am
"A mirror to Me"
For sin is destroyed
"You've been set free"
How we live the fight is who we are
"Who you are is all from Me"
"You will suffer but my strength is enough"
Still send me
"Though You will suffer your strength is in Me"
Still send me
Will You grasp my wrist and hold it dear to You heart?
To see if I am beating for You and only You my Father
How we live and fight is who we are
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
"Who you are is all from Me"
I'm leaving behind the things of this world
"Follow me my son and let the dead bury their own"
So test me oh Lord, examine my soul
"Follow me my son for what you reap you will have sown"
Give light to my eyes to see Your glory divine and break through these skies
Hear me when I cry to see Your grace come down and purge these dead lives
"Have I not given you a spirit of power and love?"
I will live to fight for these dead lives
"Have I not given you a spirit of power and love?"
How we live and fight is who we are
And as You dwell inside my heart your burning a fire that's growing
So when I feel the warmth subside rekindle the embers that's burning
Check my pulse, am I still breathing?
Will You grasp my wrist and hold it dear to You heart?
To see if I am beating for You
A herald I am
"A mirror to Me"
For sin is destroyed
"You've been set free"
How we live the fight is who we are
"Who you are is all from Me"
"You will suffer but my strength is enough"
Still send me
"Though You will suffer your strength is in Me"
Still send me
Lyrics submitted by NateCG
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beautiful song, great band its pretty clear what the meaning of the song is. this band is gonna go far <3
refreshing to see such clear christian lyrics. sick of all these "christian" bands with cryptic and metaphoric lyrics.
We are all messengers of God!